习俗 Customs 
 
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 
春联 Spring Festival couplets 
剪纸 paper-cuts 
年画 New Year paintings 
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 
敬酒 propose a toast 
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 
烟花 fireworks 
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 
戏曲 traditional opera 
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 
守岁 staying-up 
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 
禁忌 taboo 
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 
Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred coppercoins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be ahundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations consideredauspicious and given to represent luck and wealth 
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 
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